Lift truck



Feb. 6, 1934. A. M. BARRETT LIFT TRUCK Filed Aug. 5. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l T2 ind Feb. 6, 1934. A. M BARRETT LIFT TRUCK Filed Aug. 5.` 192e 3 sheets-sheet 2 lien or:

Feb. 6, 1934.

A. M. BARRETT 1,945,587

LIFT TRUCK Filed Aug. 5, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

atented Feb. 6l, .1.9.34i

STATES PATENT OFFICE LIFT TRUCK poration of Illinois Application August 51926. serial N0. 127,206

33 Claimsv My invention relates to lift trucks of the type designed to be backed under a low platform on which the load is placed, for lifting the platform and its load to transport the load from place to place, and has particularly to do with lift trucks of the type shown and described in my application, SerialrNo. 81,191, led January 14, 1926, which application has eventuated into Patent No. 1,773,934 granted August 23, 1930, in which the lifting frame on which the load is carried is raised step by step by means of ratchet mechanism actuated by the usual steering lever or handle, and the load is held up at all times during the lifting operation by hydraulic means which serves also to cushion the descent of the load when it is lowered, so that it descends gradually. The object of my present invention is to provide improved means of this general character for raising and lowering the lifting frame, the specific nature of which will appear from the following description of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. What I regard as new is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved truck, showing the lifting frame in its lowered position,l some parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the truck shown in Fig. 1, except that the steering handle is shown in horizontal section;

Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the lifting frame in its lowered position;

. Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the lifting frame i`n its elevated position; l

Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

, Fig. 6 is a similar View taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig.` '7 is a longitudinal vertical section illustrating the construction of the hydraulic mechanism for sustaining the load while it is being lifted and transported, and for Vcushioning its descent while it is being lowered.

Referring to the. drawings, in which I have illustrated my invention as applied to a lift truck in which the lifting frame moves lo-ngitudinally with respect to the main frame as it rises or descends, 8, 9 indicate the side members of the main frame, which are formed from metal bars of any suitable commercial shape and are connected together near their rear ends by a transverse beam 10, preferably of angle iron, as shown by Fig. 2. Said side bars are also connected by a rear axle 11 which carries rear wheels 12, as shown in said figure. The axle 11 is preferably located at the extreme rear ends of the side bars 8, 9, and the cross beam 10 is placed a short distance forward of the rear wheels. The front ends of the side members 8, 9 of the main frame are connected by a cross-head 13 secured thereto by bolts 14, 15, which cross-head is provided with a central opening to receive a vertical spindle 16 and provide a bearing therefor. The spin- 65 dle 16 rises from a yoke 17 which carries an axle 18 on the end portions of which are mounted front wheels`19 located respectively at opposite sides of 'the spindle 16, and the yoke 17 also is provided with a horizontal plate 2() on which the 70 central portion of the cross-head 13 bears. While I prefer to provide the main frame with two front steering wheels as described, it should be understood that my improvements may be applied to a truck having a single steering wheel, and the steering wheel or wheels may be connected with the truck in any approved way, as my present invention is not concerned with the specific manner in which such wheel or wheels are mounted. In the construction shown the steering wheel spindle 16 is provided at its upper end with a head 21 secured thereto so as to rotate therewith, and bearing on the upper surface of the cross-head 13, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The head 21 serves to support the usual steer- 35 ing handle 22, and connect it to the front wheel or wheels so that said wheels may be steered by means of said handle. For this purpose I preferably provide the head 21 with two forwardly and upwardly extending ears or standards 23 90 integral with said head and spaced a short distance apart, as shown in Fig. 2. A. pivot 24 mounted in the upper end portions of said standards forms a fulcrum for the steering handle 22, which is preferably mounted thereon by means of a yoke 25 having downwardly extending arms 26, 27 that fit against the outer faces of the standards 23, as best shown in Fig. 2. In the construction shown the yoke 25 is connected with the handle 22 by bolts or rivets 28, as shown 100 in Fig. 3. By this construction the handle 22 may be swung up and down about the pivot 24 to lift the load, as will be hereinafter described, and'by swinging the handle from side to side the steering wheels may be turned for steering 105 purposes through the rotation of the spindle 16 thereby effected. Y

Supported by the main frame lof the truck is a lifting frame which comprises side members 29, 30 that are also in the form of metal bars of 110 suitable commercial shape. Said side members extend longitudinally over the side members 8, 9 of the main frame, and are connected at the rear by a cross-beam 31 preferably of angle iron, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Near their forward ends the side members 29, 3l) are connected by a cross-beam 32, the intermediate portion of which is preferably T-shaped in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 4, said beam having a. horizontal flange 33, the end portions of which are turned down to provide plates 34 that are attached to the side members 29, 30 of the lifting frame, a vertical flange 35 that extends down between the said side members, and a vertical flange 36, which may be an extension of the flange 35, and projects up beyond the side members 2930. The side members 29, 30 are also connected by an intermediate transverse beam 37, preferably made of angle iron, with plates 38 at its ends for attachment to said side members, as best shown in Fig. 4. Said beam comprises a horizontal flange 39, and a vertical flange 40 that extends downward from the forward margin of the flange 39, and cooperates with the hydraulic load sustaining mechanism hereinafter described.

` In the construction shown the lifting frame is mounted on the main frame by means of front and rear vertically swinging links 41, 42 arranged to swing in longitudinal vertical planes to raise and lower the lifting frame. The links 41 are pivotally connected with the front end portions of the side members 3, 9 by the bolts 14, and their upper ends are connected with the front end portions of the side members 29, 30 by bolts 43, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The links 42 are pivotally mounted at their lower ends on the rear axle l1, and their upper ends are pivotally connected with the cross-beam 31 of the lifting frame by a transverse rod 44. As shown in Fig. 1, when the lifting frame is in its lowered position, at which time its side members 29, 30 rest upon the side members of the main frame, the links 41, 42, which are approximately parallel, are inclined upwardly and rearwardly from their lower pivotal connections, and manifestly by pulling forward, and preferably upward also, on the lifting frame said links will swing clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby raising the lifting frame to the position shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. My present invention has to do with the means by which this lifting is effected, and the descent of the load is controlled, and while it is particularly applicable to a lifting truck having its lifting frame mounted in the manner described, it may also be applied to trucks provided with rising and falling lifting frames supported otherwise than by the swinging links above described.

It has been stated that the lifting frame is elevated by the operation of the steering handle 22, and the means by which this is accomplished will now be explained.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that a ratchet plate 45 is secured to the downwardly extending flange 35 by means of a transverse plate 46, the arrangement being such that the ratchet plate 45 lies in a longitudinal vertical plane midway between the side members 29, 30 of the lifting frame. Said ratchet plate is securely attached to the flange 35, and its rear margin is inclined upward and forward and provided with a series of ratchet teeth 47, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Adapted to coact with said ratchet teeth is an actuating member or dog in the form of a transverse bar 48 provided at its under side with one or more teeth 49 shaped to interlock with the teeth 47 when said bar is moved upward, and to ride over said teeth when said bar is moved downward along the inclined face of the ratchet plate 45. Said bar 48 is supported at its ends by trunnions 50, shown in Fig. 2, which ride on the upper margins of angular guide plates 51 mounted adjacent to the opposite ends of the bar 48, as shown in said gure. The shape of the guide plates 51 is best shown in Fig. 5, from which it will be seen that each of said plates comprises a horizontal portion 52, and a forwardly and upwardly inclined portion 53, the latter having an inclined surface 54 on which the trunnions 50 ride. The forward or inclined portions 53 of the guide plates 51 are pivotally supported by means of pivots 55 at the upper ends of links 56 carried by a rock-shaft 57 mounted in suitable bearings in the lower front portion of fore and aft extending 4brackets 58 preferably integral with the end portions of the plate 46 that carries the ratchet plate 45, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The horizontal portions 52 of the guide plates 51 are connected by pivots 59 with the lower end portions of links 60 loosely mounted at their upper ends on a rock shaft 61 which is also journaled in said brackets. As best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the inclined surfaces 54 of the guide plates 51 are approximately parallel with the ratchet toothed margin of the ratchet plate 45, and bearing in mind that the trunnions 50 of the actuating bar 48 ride on the inclined surfaces 54, it Will be evident that by rocking the rock shaft 57 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 the guide plates 51 will be moved to the left by the swinging of the links 56, 60, thereby moving said actuating bar away from and out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet bar 45, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 115 5. Normally, however, the guide plates 51 assume the position'shown in full lines in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, under the action of gravity, thereby permitting the teeth of said actuating bar to engage the ratchet teeth 47. For rocking the 120 rock-shaft 57 to disengage the actuating bar 48 from the ratchet bar 45 I provide a pedal or foot lever 62, best shown in Fig. 6, which is mounted on a pivot pin 63 journaled in forwardly extending spacer ears 64 carried by a bracket 125 65 that is secured to the vertical flanges 35, 36 on the front transverse beam, near one end thereof, as best shown in Fig. 2. Said pedal is provided with a downwardly extending arm 66 plOVded With a hole 67 through which projects 130 a rod 68, the rear end of which is connected to a head 69 mounted on a pivot 70 at the upper end of a crank 71 that is mounted on and secured to the rock shaft 57, as best shown in Fig. 6. A spring 72 is mounted on the rod 68 135 between the head 69 and the arm 66, as shown in said gure, which spring serves to hold the pedal 62 normally in its uppermost position shown in full lines in Fig. 6. When said pedal is depressed it acts through the spring 72 to 140 rock the rock shaft 57 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6, and thereby move the actuating bar 48 out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet plate 45, as has been described. 145

For certain purposes, which will be hereinafter explained, it is desirable at times to lock the pedal 62 in its depressed position, and this is effected, in the construction illustrated, by a latch 73 in the form of an angular plate mounted 150 rearwardly of its center of gravity on a pivot 74 attached to the side member 29 of the lifting frame, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 6. Said latch is provided at its upper margin with an inwardly projecting flange 75 that is adapted to engage an outwardly projecting stud 76 carried by the arm 66 of the pedal, as best shown in Fig. 2. The arrangement is such that normally the stud 76 overlies the horizontal ange 75 of the latch, and under the action of thespring 72 causes said latch to assume thetilted position shown in Fig. 6. When, however, the pedal 62 is depressed the stud 76 moves off the adjacent end of the ange 75, whereupon the preponderating weight of the front portion of the latch 73 causes the front portion of said latch to swing downward, so that it then assumes the position shown in dotted lines'in said figures, the rear end of the latch thereby being carried up so that it lies in front of the stud 76 and therefore prevents the arm 66 from swinging forward under the action of the spring 72. The pedal 62 is, therefore, held in its depressed position. To actuate the latch to release the pedal and permit it to resume its normal position, the side member 8 of the main frame is provided with a pin 77 placed in position to intercept the downwardly extending portion of the latch when the lifting frame descends approximately to its lowermost position. Said latch is preferably provided with an inclined surface 78 which rst engages the pin 77, and the latch then rides along said pin as the lifting frame descends further, and rocks in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 74 until it moves out of engagement with the stud 76 and permits the pedal to return to its normal position, which carries said stud over the upper surface of the flange i 75, thereby holding the latch in its inoperative position. This position it maintains until the pedal is again depressed, regardless of vertical movement of the lifting frame.

The actuating bar 48 is operated to lift the lifting frame by swinging of the steering handle 22 upon its fulcrum 24, through the instrumentality of draft means connected with it and with an intermediate lever fulcrumed on the main frame. The latter is a vertically swinging bell-crank lever 79, which is fulcrumed upon a pivot shaft 80 mounted in the upper ends of standards 8l that are carried by the cross-head 13, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and are preferably formed integral therewith. Said standards are located at opposite sides of the center of the cross-head, and the lever 79 is provided with a sleeve 82 that is journaled on the pivot 80 between the upper ends of said standards, as best shown in Fig. 2. Thus the lever 79 is held in position so that it swings in a longitudinal vertical plane. The forward end of said lever is connected with the yoke 25 of the steering handle 22 by means of a link 83 in the form of a bolt screw-threaded at its lower end and having a sleeve 84 at its upper end which is journaled on a pivot 85 mounted between the members 26, 27 of said yoke, as shown in Fig. 2. The bolt 83 extends down through a slot 86 in the front arm of the lever 79, which, as shown in Fig. 3, is made approximately hemispherical in form, having a concavity at its under side which receives a hemispherical nut 87 thrusting against the inner surface of said concavity. A lock nut 88 holds the nut 87 in place. By this construction a universal joint connection is provided between the steering handle 22 and the front arm of the lever 79.

It will be evident that the steering handle may be swung laterally without disturbing its operating connection with the lever 79, and, therefore, it may be used to actuate said lever regardless of such lateral swinging of the handle. Also, as shown in the drawings, the front arm of the lever 79, and the pivot 85 connecting the bolt 83 with the steering handle, are substantially coaxial with the spindle 16, and oonsequently the use of the handle for steering the wheels does not interfere with its operation to actuate the lever 79. In other words, the lever 79 may be actuated to lift the lifting frame in the manner hereinafter described regardless of the steering position of the handle 22.

The lower rear arm of the lever 79 is connected with the actuating bar 48 by means of draft rods 89, the front ends of which are connected to the end portions of a pivot shaft 90 journaled in a sleeve 91 that forms a part of the lever 79 and is located at the lower rear corner thereof. The rods 89 extend downward and rearward from the sleeve 91 and through the end portions of the actuating'bar 48, as shown in Fig. 2, nuts 92 beingscrewed upon the rear ends of said rods to hold the actuating bar thereon, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Preferably the openings inthe actuating bar through which the rods 89 extend are screw-threaded to provide a more secure connection between said parts.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that when the lifting frame is in its lowermost position, at which time the parts will occupy the position shown in Fig. 3, the lifting frame may be raised by swinging the steering handle downward, thereby moving the front arm of the lever 79 upward and consequently drawing the actuating bar 48 forward and upward. As said actuating bar is then in engagement with the teeth 47 of the ratchet plate 45, which ratchet plate is secured to the lifting frame, the effect will be to pull the lifting frame forward and upward to an extent determined by the downward stroke of the steering handle, which may be greater or less as the operator desires. The lever 79 constitutes a power multiplying device for transmitting the lifting power to the actuating bar 48 so that the operator may lift very heavy loads by direct pull applied to said actuating bar. As the lifting frame rises itis held against descent by hydraulic mechanism which will be hereinafter described, so that after a downward stroke of the steering handle it may be raised for another stroke without the lifting frame being permitted to descend. When the lifting handle is lifted for the next stroke Vthe front end of the lever 79 swings downward and consequently moves the actuating bar 48 downward over the teeth of the ratchet plate i 47 into position to engage some of the lower teeth of the series, and on the next downward stroke of the steering handle the operation will be repeated and the lifting 'frame raised to a higher level.. This step by step raising .of the lifting frame may be continued until it reaches its highest position. If it be desired to lower the lifting frame the pedal 62 is depressed to move the actuating bar 48 out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet plate 45, and is automatically locked in its depressed position, as has been described, so that the actuating bar does not interfere with the descent'of the lifting frame, but as soon as the lifting frame reaches its lowermost position the pedal is released and returns to its normal position, which permits thev actuating bar 48 to re-engage the teeth of the ratchet plate 45 under the action of the spring 72, as has been explained.

The lifting frame is held against descent at all stages of the lifting operation, and during transportation of the load, byv means of Vhydraulic mechanism which will now be described. Such mechanism comprises a cylinder 93 vwhich extends longitudinally of the truck, preferably oentrally thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. At its rear end it is provided with a head 94 that its connected with the vertical flange 95 of the crossbeam 10 by a bolt 96 which passes loosely through an opening 97 in said ange. A spring 98 interposed between the head 99 of said bolt and said flange holds the 1nead 94 yieldingly against said flange. The forward end of the cylinder 93 is provided with a head 100 having a gland 101 and packing 102. rIhrough the gland 101 extends a tubular shaft or piston rod 103, the rear end of which communicates with the interior of the cylinder through a passage 104, and carries a piston 105 which operates in the cylinder 93. A spring 125 is interposed between the forward end of the piston 105 and the rear end of the head 100, the piston rod 103 extending therethrough, this spring aiding in returning the lifting frame to its lowered position. Said piston is provided at its rear end with a valve chamber 106 having an annular seat 107 for a ball valve 108 which is conned in the chamber 106 by a cage 109. The valve 103 serves as a check valve to close a port 110 in the piston 105 when said piston is moved rearwardly, and to permit said port to open when the piston is moved in a forward direction. Consequently, when the shaft 103 is moved forward the liquid in the cylinder passes through the port 110 to the rear of the piston, but rearward movement of said shaft is normally prevented by the closure of said port by the check valve.

The forward end of the shaft 103 is connected with a rounded head in the form of a transverse bar 111 that bears against the vertical flange 40 of the cross-beam 39, as best shown in Fig. 3, thus providing a rocking engagement between said shaft and the lifting frame to properly transmit the downward thrust of the load to said shaft. Said head is yieldingly connected near its ends with said flange by pins 112 on which are mounted springs 113, as best shown in Fig. 5, said springs being mounted between the head and nuts 114 screwed on the rear ends of said pins.

The front end of the shaft 103 extends through the head 111, and in the forward end of said shaft is fitted a gland 115, which gland extends through a slot 116 in the flange 40, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. To permit the lifting frame to be lowered the valve 108 must be moved away from its seat, for this purpose I provide a rod 117 that extends through the shaft 103 and gland 115, its rear end normally lying in proximity to but out of contact with the valve 108, as best shown in Fig. '7, while its front end extends for a short distance beyond the front end of the gland 115 and carries a nut 118 and a spring 119, as best shown in Fig. 4. Said spring tends to move the rod forward, to restore it to its normal position out of contact with the valve 108 after it has been actuated to move said valve away from its seat. By moving the rod 117 rearwardly it will engage said valve and move it away from its seat to permit the piston 105 to move rearwardly, and thereby allow the lifting frame to descend. Said rod is moved rearwardly for that purpose by means of an arm 120 mounted upon and keyed to the' rock shaft 61, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Said arm extends upward in front of the nut 118, against which it bears, so that by rocking the rock shaft 61 in a counterclockwise direction said arm will move the rod 117 rearwardly against the action of the spring 119. When the pedal 62 is depressed it operates to rock the rock shaft 61 in a counterclockwise direction by means of a rod 121, the

' forward end of which extends through registering slots in the flange 35 and bracket 65 and terminates adjacent to the rear side of the pedal arm 66, as best shown in Fig. 6, while the rear end of said rod is attached to a head 122 connected by a pivot 123 with a crank 124 carried by the rock shaft 61 and non-rotatably secured thereto, as best shown in Fig. 2. Manifestly when the pedal 62 is depressed its arm 66 swings rearwardly, thereby moving the rod 121 in the same direction and rocking the shaft 61 in a direction to move the valve 108 away from its seat in the manner above described. As has been explained, downward movement of the pedal moves the actuating bar out of engagement with the ratchet plate 45, and, therefore, there is then nothing to interfere with the descent of the lifting frame except the resistance offered by the liquid in the cylinder 93. Such liquid must pass through the piston, and through the hole 104 in the shaft 103, to the front end of the cylinder 93, and as these passages are quite restricted in area, the descent of the lifting frame is checked so that it decends gradually and without shock. The lool:` ing of the pedal in its depressed position in the manner previously described also locks the rod 117 in its rearward position so that the valve 108 is held away from its seat Yuntil the lifting frame has been fully lowered.

As shown in Fig. 3, the front end of the rod 121 terminates a short distance from the pedal arm 66 so that the pedal may be depressed sunlciently to release the actuating bar 48 from the teeth of the ratchet plate 45 before the rod 117 is actuated to move the valve 108 away from its seat, the purpose of which is to permit the steering handle to be swung down freely without lifting the lifting frame, as is sometimes desirable.

So far as I am aware I am the first in the art to provide lifting mechanism for lifting the load on a lift truck step by step by direct pull applied through the operation of a steering handle and intermediate power multiplying means mounted on the main frame, such as the lever 79, such lifting mechanism comprising a draft member having a clutch connection with the lifting frame, such as the ratchet mechanism described, and, therefore, that feature is claimed generically. In other respects also my invention is not limited to the specific details of the construction shown and described, but includes such changes or modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a lifting lever, of means for raising the lifting frame by'forward pull through the operation of the lifting lever, comprisinfr an intermediate lever fulcrumed on the main frame and operable by said lifting lever, and a draft element reciprocable in a fore and aft direction by said intermediate lever and having ratchet connection with the lifting frame.

2. In a liftY truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and lifting lever, of means for raising the lifting frame by forward pull thereof through the operation of the lifting lever, comprising an intermediate lever fulcrumed on the main frame and operable by said lifting lever, and a draft element reciprocable by said intermediate lever and having ratchet connection with the lifting frame, and means operable to disconnect said draft element from the lifting frame..

3. In a lift truck, the combination with a Wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame, and a lifting lever, of means for raising the lifting frame by forward pull through the operation of the lifting lever, comprising draft means engaging the lifting frame, an intermediate lever fulcrumed on said wheeled supporting means and connected with said draft means and with said lifting lever, means operable to disengage said draft means from the lifting frame, and a latch for holding said draft means out of engagement with the lifting frame.

4. In a lift truck, the combination with supporting means, a lifting frame, and a lifting lever, of means for raising the lifting frame by forward pull through the operation of the lifting lever, comprising draft means having ratchet connection with the lifting frame, and an intermediate lever fulcrumed on said supporting means and connected with said draft means and with said lifting lever. Y

5. In a lift truck, the combination with wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame, and a lifting lever, of means for raising the lifting frame by forward pull through the operation of the lifting lever, comprising draft means having ratchet connection with the lifting frame, an intermediate lever fulcrumed on the wheeled supporting means intermediate lever fulcrumed on the wheeled supporting means and connected with said steering handle substantially in line with the steering axis of the truck, and draft means connected with said intermediate lever and subject to direct pull thereby and having ratchet connection with the lifting frame. Y

7. In a lift truck, the combination with wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame, a steering head, and a steering handle fulcrumed on said steering head, of means for raising the lifting frame by the operation of the steering handle regardless of its steering position, comprising an intermediate lever fulcrumed on the wheeled supporting means, a link providing a universal connection between said intermediate lever and the steering handle substantially in line with the steering axis of the truck, and draft means connected with said intermediate lever and subjected to direct pull thereby and having ratchet connection with the lifting frame.

8. In a lift truck, the combination with wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame, a steering head, and a steering handle fulcrumed on said steering head, of means for raising the lifting frame by the operation of the steering handle regardless of its steering position, comprising an intermediate lever fulcrumed on the wheeled supporting means and connected with said steering handle substantially in linewith the steering axis of the truck, and ratchet operated draft means for operatively connecting said intermediate lever with the lifting frame.

9. In a lift truck, the combination with wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame, a steering head, and a steering handle fulcrumed on said steering head, of means for raising the lifting frame by the operation of the steering handle regardless of its steering position, comprising an intermediate lever fulcrumed on the wheeled supporting means and connected with said steering handle substantially in line with the steering axis of the truck, ratchet operated draft devices for operatively connecting said intermediate lever with the lifting frame, means operable to hold said ratchet devices out of operative relation with each other, and means for holding the lifting frame in its elevated position.

10. In a lift truck, the combination with wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame, a steering head, and a steering handle fulcrumed on said steering head, of means for raising the lifting frame by the operation of the steering handle regardless of its steering position, comprising an intermediate lever fulcrumed on the wheeled supporting means and connected with said steering handle substantially in line with the steering axis of the truck, ratchet devices for operatively connecting said intermediate lever with the lifting frame, hydraulic mechanism for y holding the lifting frame against descent during the lifting operation, and means operable to move the ratchet devices out of operative relation to each other and to release said hydraulic mechanism to permit the descent of the lifting frame.

11. In a lift truck, the combination with wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle, comprising a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on vthe wheeled supporting means to swing vertically, means connecting one of the arms of said lever with said steering handle, draft means connected with another arm of said lever, and ratchet mechanism actuated by said draft means for raising the lifting frame. Y

l2. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means Yfor raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle, comprising a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on the main frame to swing vertically, means connecting one of the arms of said lever with said steering handle, draft means connected with another arm of said lever, a dog connected with said draft means, and a ratchet connected with the lifting frame and adapted to be engaged by said dog to lift the lifting frame. f

13. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation Vof the steering handle, comprising a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on the main frame to swing vertically, means connecting one of the 14o arms of said lever with said steering handle, draft means connected with another arm of said lever,

a dog connected with said draft means, a ratchet connected with the lifting frame and adapted to be engaged by said dog to lift the lifting frame, 14,5 and means operable to move said dog out of engagement with said ratchet.

14. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle, comprising a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on the main frame to swing vertically, and means connecting one of the arms of said lever with said steering handle, draft means connected with another arm of said lever, a ratchet plate secured to the lifting frame, and an actuating bar connected with said draft means and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet plate.

15. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle, comprising a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on the main frame to swing vertically, means connecting one of the arms of said lever with said steering handle, draft means connected with another arm of said lever, a ratchet plate secured to the lifting frame, an actuating bar connected with said draft means and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet plate, and guiding means for said actuating bar.

16. In a lift truck, the combination with wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle, comprising a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on the wheeled supporting means to swing vertically, means connecting one of the arms of said lever with said steering handle, draft means connected with another arm of said lever, a ratchet plate secured to the lifting frame, an actuating bar connected with said draft means and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet plate, guiding means for said actuating bar, said guiding means being movable to disconnect said actuating bar from said ratchet plate, and means operable to move said guiding means.

17. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle, comprising a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on the main frame toswing vertically, means connecting one of the arms of said lever with said steering handle, draft means connected with another arm of said lever, a ratchet plate secured to the lifting frame, an actuating bar connected with said draft means and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet plate, guides for said actuating bar, swinging arms supporting said guides and movable to disengage said actuating bar from said ratchet plate, and means operable to move said arms.

18. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle, comprising a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on the main frame to swing vertically, means connecting one of the arms of said lever with said steering handle, draft means connected with another arm of said lever, a ratchet plate secured to the lifting frame, an actuating bar connected with said draft means and adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet comprising draft means., m1201161; deVCeS for Operatively connecting said draft means with the lifting frame, an intermediate lever fulcrumed on the main frame and connected with said draft means and with said steering handle, means for holding the ratchet devices out of engagement with each other, and means actuated by the descent of the lifting frame for restoring the engagement of said ratchet devices with each other.

20. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame by forward pull through the operation of the steering handle, comprising draft means, ratchet devices for operatively connecting said draft means with the lifting frame, an intermediate lever fulcrumed on the main frame and connected with said draft means and with said steering handle, a pedal operable to move said ratchet devices out of engagement with each other, a latch for holding said ratchet devices in the latter position, and means operated by the descent of the lifting frame for releasing said latch.

21. In a lift truck, the combination with wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame, a steering head, and a. steering handle fulcrumed on said steering head, of means for raising the lifting frame by the operation of the steering handle, comprising an intermediate lever fulcrumed on the wheeled supporting means and connected with said steering handle, means including a member connected with said intermediate lever and subjected to direct pull thereby, and means establishing a pawl and ratchet connection between said member and the lifting frame, said pawl moving the ratchet in the lifting operation.

22. In a lift trunk, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, a steering head, and a steering handle fulcrumed on said steering head, of means for raising the lifting frame by the operation of the steering handle, comprising an intermediate lever swingably mounted on the main frame, means connecting said lever with the lifting frame and comprising a link member subject to direct pull in the lifting operation, and connecting means between the link member and the lifting frame including pawl and ratchet mechanism, the pawl being actuated by said link member to move the ratchet, and means connecting the intermediate lever with the steering handle.

23. In a lift truck, the combination with wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame, a steering head, and a steering handle fulcrumed on said steering head, of means for raising the lifting frame by the operation of the steering handle, comprising an intermediate lever swingably mounted on the wheeled supporting means, and means respectively connecting said lever with the steering handle and with the lifting frame, one of said connecting means comprising a link member subjected to direct pull in the lifting operation and the other connecting means including a pawl operated ratchet mechanism.

24. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, a steering head, and a steering handlev fulcrumed on said steering head of means for raising the lifting frame by the operation of the steering handle, comprising an intermediate lever swingably mounted on the main frame, and means respectively connecting said lever with the steering handle and with the lifting frame, said connecting means comprising a link member subjected to direct pull in the lifting operation and connected with the steering handle and the intermediate lever and adapted to swing said intermediate leverV in a generally Vertical direction, said connecting means also including a ratchet mechanism interposed between the intermediate lever and the lifting frame.

25. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle, comprising a vertically swinging lever fulcrumed on the main frame, means connecting one end of said lever with said steering handle including tension link means a portion of which moves substantially vertically in the steering axis of said handle in the lifting operation, and ratchet lifting means actuated by said swinging lever for raising the lifting frame.

26. In a lift truck, the combination with wheeled supporting means, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle regardless of its steering position, comprising link means subjected to direct pull and having one end movable substantially vertically in the steering axis of the truck, and connecting means between the other end of said link means and the lifting frame.

27. A lifting truck comprising wheeled supporting means, an elevating frame, a crosshead carried by the wheeled supporting means and provided with a vertical bearing portion, a king bolt having a yoke member at the lower end thereof and journaled in said bearing portion, a steering handle, means pivoting said handle to the upper end of the king bolt for vertical movement, said handle being adapted for lateral swinging to steer the truck, and means operated by said vertical movement of the steering handle to lift the elevating frame regardless of the steering position of said handle, said last named means comprising link means subjected to direct pull and having one end movable substantially vertically in the axis of the king bolt and connecting means between the other end of said link means and the elevating frame.

28. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle regardless of its steering position comprising link means subjected to direct pull and having one end movable substantially vertically in the steering axis of the truck, and connecting means including pawl and ratchet mechanism between the other end of said link means and the lifting frame.

29. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle regardless of its steering position comprising link means subjected to direct pull and having one end movable substantially vertically in the steering axis of the truck, and connecting means between the other end of said link means and the lifting frame including a pawl carried by said link means and a ratchet carried by said lifting frame.

30. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle regardless'of its steering position, comprising link means subjected to direct pull and having one end movable substantially vertically in the steering axis of the truck, and connecting means between the other end of said link means and the lifting frame, comprising means at the other end of said link means acting as a pawl and means fixed to the lifting frame and acting as a cooperating ratchet.

31. Alifting truck comprising a wheeled frame, an elevating frame, a crosshead carried by the wheeled frame and provided with a vertical bearing portion, a king bolt having a yoke member at the lower end thereof and journaled in said bearing portion, a steering handle, means pivoting said handle to the upper end of the king bolt for vertical movement, said handle being adapted for lateral swinging to steer the truck, means operated by said vertical movement of the steering handle to lift the elevating frame regardless of the steering position of said handle, said last named means comprising link means subjected to direct pull and having one end movable substantially vertically in the axis of the king bolt and pawl and ratchet means connecting the other end of said link means and the elevating frame, and means for holding the elevating frame in raised position.

32. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle regardless of its steering position, comprising link means subjected to direct pull and having one end movable substantially vertically in the steering axis of the truck, connecting means between the other end of said link means and the lifting frame, said connecting means including pawl and ratchet mechanism operable to raise the lifting frame in a plurality of steps, and means for holding the lifting frame in its elevated position.

33. In a lift truck, the combination with a main frame, a lifting frame, and a steering handle, of means for raising the lifting frame through the operation of the steering handle regardless of its steering position, comprising link means subjected to direct pull and having one end movable substantially vertically in the steering axis of the truck, pawl and ratchet mechanism connecting the other end of said link means and the lifting frame, whereby the latter can be elevated in a plurality of steps, and hydraulic means for holding the lifting frame between each step. g f

ARTHUR M. BARRETT. 

